Radiator shutter



w. s. HOUGH RADMfoR SHUTTER Fi le'drDec. 27, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 31. 1925.

ATTO RN EY 1 m w H R 0 5H m M Mam 31. 1925.

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec 2'7, 1923 ATTORNEY.

4 Sheets-Sheet 5 HOWE,

w. s. HOUGH v RADIATOR SHUTTER F i/ied Dec. 27, 1923 March 31, 1925.

INVEN'AI'OBI WITNESSES v ATTORNEY March 31. 1925. 1 1,531,398

W.S.HOUGH RADIATOR SHUTTER Filed Dec. 27, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ENToR,

' ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 31, 1925.

UNITED STATES WILLIAMS. HOUGH, or ST. CATHARINES, ONTARIO, CANADA.

RADIATOR SHUTTER.

Application filed December 27, 1923. Serial No. 683,036.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM S. HOUGH, a citizen of Canada, residing at St. Catharines, in the Province of Ontario and Dominion of lanada, have invented a new and useful Radiator Shutter, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a radiator shutter for controlling the circulation of air through the radiator of motor vehicles or the like.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a; radiator shutter ofsimple and practical construction which may be economically mamifactured, and which may be easily adjusted to obtain the widest range from the complete exclusion of air circulation through the radiator, to a practically unretarded flow thereof.

Another important object of. the invention is to provide means whereby a free circulation of air may be permitted through the upper or hotter part of the radiator,

while the circulation is excluded from the lower or cooler part thereof.

described in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 represents a front view of the invention secured to an automobile radiator, part being in elevation, and part in section.

Figure 2 is a horizontal section taken on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal section showing the shutter closed.

Figure 4 is a similar View showing theupper part of the. shutter open.

Figure 5 is a similar view showing the shutter completely open.

Figure 6 is a vertical transverse section through one side of the invention.

Figure 7 is a rear elevation of a modified form of the 111"611t1011.

Figure 8 is a horizontal section taken on the line S-S of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a vertical section taken .substantially on the line 99 of Figure 7, showing the shutter completely closed.-

F igure 10 is a vertical section taken on the line 1010 of Figure 7, with the shutter completely closed.

Figure 11 is a view similar to Figure 10, but with the upper part of the shutter open.

Figure 12 is a View similar to Figures 10 and 11, but with the shutter completely. open.

Figure 13 is a rear elevation of a portion ofthe shutter shown in Figure 7, but showing a modified construction of the means for adjusting the shutter.

Figure 14 is a fragmentary sectional View taken on the line 14-14 of Figure 13.

The invention, as disclosed in Figures 1 to (5, includes an outer or front frame 1, substantially rectangular in outline and dished so as to set out in front of the radiator 2, to which it is attached by means of a peripheral rim 3. Secured to or integral with the frame 1 are a series of ribs 4, extending across the frame and V-shaped in cross section, with their sides rearwardly diverging and separated by spaces 5. Supported within and in rear of the frame 1 is. a second frame 6, of substantially the same shape but somewhat smaller, so as to be freely movable Within the frame 1. The frame 6 is slidably supported at the top and bottom on pins 7, which are rigidly secured to and extend rearwardly from certain of the ribs 4. j The .frame 6 is also provided with a series of spaced ribs 8, similar to the ribs 4, but in staggered relation thereto. The frames 1 and 6 with their ribs 4 and 8 may be practically and economically constructed by stamping from sheet metal. lVhile the ribs 4 and 8 are shown as V- shaped, this shape is not essential as long as their sides diverge rearwardly, and the ribs of one frame are opposite to the spaces between the ribs of the other frame.

The frame 6 is normally urged toward closed position, as shown in Figure 3, by means of expansile coiled springs 9 surrounding the pins 7, and acting -between the heads 10 at the inner ends of the pins and the webs 11 through which the pins pass, and which form means for guiding the frame 6 in its movement toward or away from closed position. For the purpose of adjusting the position of the frame 6, a yoke 12 extends from side to side in rear of the lower edge of the frame, and has legs 13 extending upwardly between the sides of the frames 6 and 1, respectively. Each of these legs 13 is provided with two slots 14 and 15, which receive pins 16 secured to the adjacent side of the frame 6, and as the yoke is moved upwardly or downwardly, the frame 6 is guided by the pins 16, riding in the respective slots 14 and Each of the upper slots 15 has its lower half inclined upwardly and rearwardly, and its upper half vertical with a notch 17 formed mid-way of its length, and a second notch 18 formed at its upperend. Each of the slots 14 has its lower half vertical, and its upper half inclined upwardly and rearwardly and terminating in 'a notch 19. It will be observed, therefore, that as the yoke 12 is drawn downwardly from the position shown in Figure 3 to that shown in Figure 4, the lower-pins .16 ride inthe ver- -tical portions of the-slots 14, thus maintaining the lower part of the frame 6 substantially closed, while the upper pins 16 ride in the inclined portions of the slots 15, and move the upper part of the frame 6 rearwardly to open-that portion of the shutter. The pressure of the springs 9 causes the upper pins 16 to drop into thenotches 17, and yieldably retain the shutter in this intermediate position. Upon further downward movement of the yoke 12, the upper pins 16 ride in; the vertical portions of the slots 15 and engage the notches 18, thus maintaining the upper portion of the frame 6 in its spaced relation to the frame 1, while the lower pins 16 ride in the inclined portions of the slots 14, .and move the lower portion of the frame 6 into spaced rela tion to the frame 1, as indicated in Figure 5. In order to permit the free upward and downward movement of the yoke 12, the lower rear portion of the frame 6 may be cut away, as shown at 20.

Any preferred means may be provided for adjusting the yoke 12. In the present construction, I have shown the lower portion of the yoke 12 as provided cent-rall with a forwardly projecting ear 21 to wish is attached the end of a flexible rod 22, which is slidably supported within a'tube 23, and may be extended to any convenient point within reach of the operator.

In the construction shown in Figures 7 to 12, the outer frame 24 is substantially the same as the frame 1, except that it is provided with a peripheral inwardly extending flange 25, whichis sufficiently wide at the sides of the radiator to receive certain mechanism hereinafter described for adjusting the shutter. The inneredge of the flange 25 is turned rearwardly, as indicated at 26, to form a channel within which is received a channel 27, forming the peripheral portion of the inner-frame 28.

The frames 24 and 28 are provided with cooperating ribs 29 and 30, similar to the ribs 4 and 8 of the frames '1 and 6.

Secured in and extending rearwardly from the flanges 25 are a plurality of bolts 31, two at each side of the radiator, on which the inner frame 28 is guided. Around each pair of guide pins 31 is looped a wire spring 32- of novel construction. The lower and major portion of the spring is substantially arcuate in form, as indicated at 33, with its convex face engaging the inner side of the inner frame 28, while the intermediate portion 34, which is above the center of the spring, is reversely curved, and

its upper portion 35 is continued in substantially a straight line to the point where it is looped around the upper pin 31. rock shaft 36 is mounted transversely of the frame 28 behind one of its ribs, as 37, and traverses the under or concave side of the reversely curved portion 34 of the spring 32. The ends of the shaft 36 are extended beyond the sides of throu h slots 38 in the sides of the frame 24. 11 each end of the shaft 36 is secured a cam 39 having three comparatively flat sides40, 41 and 42 at progressively ,increasing distances from-the axis of the shaft 36, and engageable with the bottom of the channel formed by the flange 25.- One end of the shaft 36 may be provided with a crank 43, or with some other suitable means for rocking position of the cam 39, and adjust the po sition of the inner-frame 28 with respect to the frame 24.

In the operation of the adjusting-means shown in Figures 7 to 12, when the shaft 36 is rockedto bring the cam 39 into the position shown in Figures 9 and 10, the shaft 36 is permitted to move in the slots 38, near to the plane of the flange 25 of the outer frame 24. The approach of the inner frame to the the engage-.

outer frame is limited only by ment of the bases of the ribs 29' with the sides of the ribs 30. The inner frame is held in this position by the pressure exerted .by the convex portion 33 of the spring 32 at each side of the frame. When theshaft 36 is rocked to the position shown in Figure 11, and the flatside 41 of the cam engages the bottom of the channel moved farther away from the bottom of the channel, and is forced against the resistance of the reversely curved portion 34 of the spring. Thus, the upper portion 35 of the spring, which offers less resistance than the bowed portion 33, is flexed to permit the upper portion of the frame 28 to swing away from the frame 24, and open the upper part of the shutter. When the shaft 36 is further rocked to bring the fiat portion 42 of the cam into engagement with the-bottom of the channel 25, as shown in Figure 12, the shaft is moved farther inwardly to the inner ends the frame 28, and.

the shaft, so as to change the 1 25, the shaft 36 isof the slots 38, and since the upper portion ofthe frame 28 is positively limited by the pins 31, the lower portion is forced outwardly against the greater resistance of the bowed portion 33 of the spring, so that the entire frame 28 is equally spaced from the By sliding the rack bar longitudinally,

therefore, the cam 44 is rocked with the shaft 37.- The lower end of the rack bar is provided with teeth 51, which are in mesh with a pinion 52, secured to a stub shaft 53 mounted in the lower part of the frame 24, and provided at its upper end with any suit ablemeans for rocking the same, this means being exemplified by the cross head 54.

From the foregoing description, it will be noted that the entire invention may be economically manufactured and easily attached to any automobile radiator. W'hen adjusted to the position shown in Figures 4 and 11, air will be drawn through the upper or hottest part of the radiator, while thelower part of the shutter remains substantially closed. 'VVhen adjusted to the position shown in Figures 5 and 12, the shutter is fully open, and a maximum amount of air will be drawn through the radiator. It is to be particularly noted from Figure 5 that the air in striking the outer rearwardly inclined faces of the ribs 4 will be directed through the slots 5, and will have a free and unobstructed passage between the ribs 8, since the sides of the latter are in the same planes with the corresponding sides of the adjacent ribs 4. Thus, a maximum volume of air will pass through the radiator, and the greatest possible cooling effect will be produced.

While I have shown and described specifically a number of different ways in. which the invention may be carried out, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited specifically to any of the constructions shown and described, but that various other modifications may be devised without departing from the salient features of the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination of a plurality of superposed frames, each having a series of spaced ribs extending thereacross, means connecting the frames whereby they are slidably mounted one with relation to the other, springs urging said frames into close contact with each other, said. frames when in close contact being arranged so as to entirely cut off the circulation of air through the radiator, and means for progressively separating said frames against the action of said springs so that first the upper portions are separated and then the lower portions thereof.

2. In a shutter attachment for radiators, the combination of two relatively movable frames, each having a series of spaced ribs extending thereacross, the ribs of one frame being parallel to and arranged in staggered relation to the ribs of the other frame, means for first moving the upper edges of the frame apart so as toseparate the upper ribs of one frame from those of the other frame, and means for subse uently separating the lower edges of the frame so that a free circulation is obtained throughout all portions thereof.

3. In a shutter attachment for radiators, the combination of two relatively movable superposed frames, each having a series of spaced ribs extending thereacross, said ribs being V-shaped in cross section with their sides diverging rearwardly, with the ribs of one frame arranged in staggered relation to the ribs of the other frame, andmeans for moving one frame bodily with respect to the other so aslto' bring its ribs into or away from the spaces between the .ribs' 'of the other frame. a

4. An attachment. for radiators, comprising two relatively movable superposed substantially rectangular frames, each having a series of spaced ribs extending thereacross, and means for relatively adjusting the two frames so that the ribs of the two frames form a closure to prevent any circulation of air through the radiator, or so that the upper edges of the frame are separated to permit air to circulate through the upper portion of the radiator, or so that all parts of the frames are equally spaced to permit a free circulation of air through all parts of the radiator.

5. An attachment for radiators, comprising two superposed relatively movable frames, each having a series of spaced ribs extending thereacross, said ribs having rearwardly diverging sides, with the ribs of one frame parallel and arranged in staggered relation to the ribs of the other frame, resilient means for normally holding the frames in close contact with each other so that the ribs of one frame fill the spaces between the ribs of the other frame, means for moving one frame bodily away from the other frame, the sides of the ribs when so adjusted being in the same planes with corresponding sides of-the adjacent ribs in tor with spaces therebetween, the spaces in one frame being opposite to the covering portions of the other frame, pins secured to one frame perpendicular to the plane thereof, the other frame being slidable on said pins but held thereby against lateral movement, coiled springs on said pins urging the frames into close contact with each other to completely shut off circulation of air through the radiator, and means for positively separating said frames against the action of said springs to permit circulation of air therethrough.

7. In an attachment for radiators, the combination of a plurality of frames, each having means for partly covering the front of the radiator with spaces therebet'woen, pins secured to one frame perpendicular to the plane thereof, the other frame being slidably mounted on said pins but held thereby against lateral movement, coiled springs on saidpins urging said frames into close con-- tact with each other, said frames when in close contact being so" arranged as to entirely out ofi the circulation of airthrough the radiator, and means for progressively separating said frames against the action of said springs so that first the upper po rtious are separated and then the lower portions thereof. v

8. In a radiator attachment, the combination of a fixed frame, a second frame having a limited movement toward or away from'the other frame, a yoke movable only in a direction transverse to the movement v of the movable frame, said yoke having slots a the fixed frame for a with portions inclined to the direction of movement of said yoke, and pins secured to the movable frame and engaging said slots so as to move the frame inwardly or outwardly when the yoke is moved.

9. In a radiator attachment, the combination of a fixed frame, a second frame having a limited movement toward or away from the other frame, a yoke movable only in a direction transverse to the movement of the movable frame, said yoke having upper slots and lower slots, pins secured to the movable frame and engaging the respective slots, the upper slots being inclined from their lower ends upwardly and away from portion of their length and then extending vertically upwardly,the lower slots extending vertically from their lower ends for a portion of their length. and then being inclined 'rearwardly, whereby a movement of the yoke from its uppermost position downwardly will first separate the upper portions of the frames and then the lower portions thereo 10. In a, radiator attachment, the combination of a plurality of frames, each having means for partly covering the front of the radiator with spaces therebetween, the spaces in one frame being opposite the covering portions of the other frame, pins se- -cured to one frame perpendicular to the plane thereof, the on said pins, springs normally urging said frames into close contact with each other, a yoke movable transversely to the movement of the movable frame, said yoke having slots with portions inclined to the direction of movement of said yoke, and pins secured to the movable frame and engaging the slots, whereby the movement of the yoke in one direction will sepai'ate the frames against the action ofsaid springs and the movement of the yoke in the other direction will permit the frames to close.

11. In a radiator attachment, the com bination of two superposed frames, each having a series of spaced ribs extending thereacross, the ribs of one frame being staggered with reference to the ribs of the other frame, one of said frames bein relatively fixed and having pins secured t ereto pendicular to the plane of the frame, the other frame being slidableon said pins toward or away from said fixed frame, coiled springs on said pins urging frame into close contact with the fixed frame to completely shut off the circulation of air therethrough, a yoke movable only in a direction transverse to thevmovement of the movable frame, said yoke havingupper slots and lower slots, pins in said movable frame extending into the respective slots, the upper slots being inclined from their lower ends upwardly and away from the fixed frame for a portion of their length and then extending vertically upward, the lower slots extending from their lower ends vertically upward for a portion of their length and then bein inclined upwardly and away from the of the yoke from its uppermost position downwardly first separates the upper portions of t e frames to permit circulation of air through the upper part of the radiator, and then separates the lower parts of the frames to permit circulation of air through the reinainmg portion of the radiator.

12. In. a radiator attachment, thecombination of two frames, means slidably connecting the same so that one frame has a limited relative movement only in a direction toward or away from the other frame, resilient means urging the frames int-o close contact with each other, a rock shaft jour naled in, one frame and having cams secured thereto, and engageable with the other frame to separate the frames as the shaft is rocked in one direction. 7

13. In a radiator attachment, the combination of two superposed frames, a plurality of pairs of pins extending from one frame on which the second frame is slidable toward or away from the first frame, a spring connecting the extremities of each other frame being slidable l the movable I fixed frame, whereby a movement a spring connecting the extremities of each pair of pins and having'a bowed portion nearer to one pin than the other and bearing against the second frame and normally urging it into contact with the first frame, a rock shaft journaled in the second frame underneath and in engagement with each of said springs between its bowed portion and the more remote pin to which the spring is connected, said shaft having cams secured thereto, and engageable with the first frame to separate the frames as the shaft is rocked.

15. In a radiator attachment, the combination of two frames slidably connected so that one frame has a relative movement only in a direction toward and away from the other frame, a rock shaft journaled in one frame and having a plurality of toothed cams thereon, racks engaging with the teeth of the cams and movable longitudinally to rock the shaft and bring the cams between the shaft and the other frame, so as to separate said frames, and resilient means normally urging said frames toward each other.

16. In a radiator attachment, the combination of two superposed frames, a plurality of pairs of pins extending from one frame, on which the second frame is slidable, a spring connecting the extremities of each pair of ins and having a portion bearing against t 1e second frame normally urging it into contact with the first frame, a

rock shaft journaled in the second frame underneath and in engagement with the springs, said rock shaft having toothed cams secured thereon, racks in engagement with the cams, and movable longitudinally to rock the shaft and bring the cams between said rock shaft and the first frame to separate said frames. i

17. In a radiator attachment, the combination of two superposed frames, :1 plurality of pairs of pins extending from one frame, on which the second frame is slidable, a-s 'iring connecting the extremities of each pair of pins and having a bowed portion nearer toone pin than the other and bearing against the second frame so as to normally urge it into contact with thefirst frame, a rock shaft journaled in the second frame underneath and in engagement with,

each of said springs between its bowed portion and the more remote pin to which the spring is connected, said shaft having toothed cams secured thereto, racks in engagement with the cams and movable longitudinally to rock the shaft, and bring said cams between the shaft and the first frame to separate said frames from each other.

In testimony,-that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixed my signature.

i WILLIAM s. HOUGH. 

